Celebrating a century of service, Fr. Darryl Pepin (left) and Msgr. Joe Gouin share a laugh at the Priest Appreciation Dinner on May 8, 2025, at St. Louis the King parish. Both Fr. Pepin and Msgr. Gouin will retire in July with 47 and 60 years of service, respectively.  More than 40 priests joined Bishop John Doerfler for Mass and to share a meal at the annual dinner.

The Diocesan Communicator is delivered through Flocknote.  You are now able to read the information right in your email message!

If you have any thoughts or suggestions to share, please email Sara at sshusta@dioceseofmarquette.org and John at jfee@dioceseofmarquette.org.

The current Communicator, as well as past issues, are available on the Diocesan website at https://dioceseofmarquette.org/communicator.

June 7, 2025       World Church Collection (Stewardship & Development)

June 8, 2025       World Church Collection (Stewardship & Development)

June 15, 2025     St. Joseph Association/Good Shepherd Sunday Collection Remittance Deadline (Stewardship & Development)

July 31, 2025      World Church Collection Remittance Deadline (Stewardship & Development)

Aug. 9, 2025       National Church Collection (Stewardship & Development)

Aug. 10, 2025     National Church Collection (Stewardship & Development)

Aug. 31, 2025     Parish Annual Financial Report Deadline (Administration & Finance)

Just a reminder:  Any parish that has more Mass intentions and Mass stipends than they can satisfy in a year should send the Mass intentions and corresponding Mass stipend check to the diocesan office c/o:  Terry Bailey, Office of the Bishop, 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855. You will receive a letter acknowledging our acceptance of the responsibility to see that the Mass intentions are celebrated. The Mass intentions and stipends will be distributed to senior priests of the diocese who celebrate Masses or may be distributed to parishes who are in need of Mass intentions.  (Canon 953 No one is permitted to accept more offerings for Masses to be applied by himself than he can satisfy within a year.)

Coming up in June, the annual “Prayer Intention Card” mailing from the Bishop’s Office will be direct mailed to all registered households. Helping to fulfill one of his primary obligations, to pray for the people of the Diocese of Marquette, Bishop John Doerfler invites parishioners to send personal prayer requests. Returned prayer cards are kept in his private chapel, where he will pray for the intentions for the next year. Please encourage your parishioners to respond. I encourage you to add this into your coming weekly bulletins.  

There are individuals continuing to represent themselves as the bishop using an email address that is not similar to his valid diocesan email address.  Diocesan email addresses follow a pattern of firstinitiallastname@dioceseofmarquette.org such as tbailey@dioceseofmarquette.org .
 
Would you kindly remind your parishioners via a bulletin announcement that the bishop, our priests and employees of the Diocese of Marquette will never request the purchase of gift cards to be sent via text message or email for any type of fundraising project.  Regardless of what email address or cell phone number the request comes from, parishioners should never purchase gift cards and send pictures of them via text or email.  
 
Scammers are using any information they can find to initiate these requests including information (such as board members cell numbers or email addresses) on our diocesan website, information in our parish bulletins and on parish websites.  

Religious freedom allows the Church, and all religious communities, to live out their faith in public and to serve the good of all.  Beginning June 22, 2025, the feast of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, the USCCB invites Catholics to pray, reflect, and act to promote religious freedom.
 
During Religious Freedom Week, Catholics are encouraged to pray and act each day for religious freedom. The Pray-Reflect-Act series aims to help Catholics build solidarity with people of faith who are persecuted abroad and find strength to carry out the mission of the Church here in the United States.
 
The website will soon contain a bulletin insert, social media downloads with prayer intentions, lectionary notes, as well as other resources. Once available, please distribute these materials through your channels where appropriate. Website link here:  http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/religious-freedom-week/index.cfm

Congratulations to all who prepared adults, teens, and children for the Sacraments this Easter season!  Your steadfast witness, faithful teaching, and ongoing friendship will bear abundant fruit.  Here’s a reminder to register at your parish all newly baptized adults and those received into full communion.  Also submit their information in the online Parish Member Change Form so they will receive The U.P. Catholic newspaper: jotform.com/213185397002149

The updated Confirmation Preparation Policy takes effect this week.  It is posted on the Confirmation page: dioceseofmarquette.org/diocesanconfirmation.  Please note Bishop John will visit every vicariate next Spring 2026 to celebrate Confirmation. The remaining Fall 2025 Confirmation Masses are for those who will be high school seniors in the Fall (and any adults needing Confirmation).  High school juniors next school year should be prepared for Confirmation in Spring 2026.  No further Confirmation Masses will be celebrated in the Fall after 2025 (unless requested by pastors for special cases).

There’s still spots available for our service week for teens June 16-19, 2025 in Marquette.  More information and registration is online: yoopercatholic.org/gsl

Pastors, faith formation coordinators, youth ministers, OCIA leaders, deacons and religious are invited to attend one of the summer formation days for catechetical leaders.  There are five opportunities scheduled at locations around the U.P.  For more information and to register, visit yoopercatholic.org/pclformation

The Beginning Experience is a Christian peer-led ministry serving those who are grieving the end of a spousal relationship due to death, divorce, or separation.  Men and women of all ages are invited to attend their upcoming one-day retreat via Zoom: In the Beginning…Coping with Life Alone. This will take place Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.  For information or to register call Jim at (845) 220-7883 or Denise at (845) 325-3147.

A couple Baraga Youth Fraternity camping retreats for boys ages 12-16 are happening in late July and August (yoopercatholic.org/camping).  The annual Catholic Summer Camp is also taking place July 21-24 at Clear Lake (yoopercatholic.org/camp).

SUMMER EDUCATORS CONFERENCE
Reminder to Diocese of Marquette teachers and principals to mark your calendars for the Conference on Renewal in Catholic Liberal, Education which will be held June 12-13, 2025, at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette.  This year’s conference will explore the principles of Catholic, Liberal Education in our work to form compassionate, critical thinkers who will carry our values into the world.

SCHOOL COUNCIL MINUTES
All schools are reminded they are to submit all agenda and minutes from school council meetings and supporting committee meetings to our office after each meeting. Minutes and agendas can be sent to Sara Shusta, sshusta@dioceseofmarquette.org. 

Watch livestreams and archived videos of the upcoming ordinations, Masses and other events from St. Peter Cathedral on the new diocesan webpage, https://www.dioceseofmarquette.org/livestream. Generally, livestreams are archived within 30 minutes of ending. That will be the most reliable place to see the ordination, which we will keep archived for at least three months.

Please send photos of First Communion, Confirmation and OCIA groups for publication in The U.P. Catholic’s annual Sacraments and OCIA issue by June 20, 2025. Be sure to list names (left to right) front row, second row, third row, back row, etc. Photos may be sent by email to news@dioceseofmarquette.org or mailed to The U.P. Catholic, 1004 Harbor Hills Dr., Marquette, MI 49855.

Please remember to contact the Diocesan Communications Staff at news@dioceseofmarquette.org if your parish/school is celebrating any major milestones, events, missions or outreach in 2025.

The diocesan offices will be changing business hours for the months of June, July, and August. The Diocese will be open for summer hours Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., with offices closed on Fridays. Summer hours will continue through Labor Day and regular diocesan office hours will resume Sept. 2, 2025.

 

Parish corporations are required to hold an annual meeting of the Board of Directors. We recommend that pastors hold these meetings between July 1 and Sept. 15, 2025. Diocesan staff will provide meeting agenda and minutes templates and other relevant meeting materials to pastors and parish staff this month to assist in preparations for annual board meetings. Please send copies of the final minutes from your second annual board meeting(s) to the diocesan office by Sept. 30, 2025. If you have any questions concerning the annual Board meetings, please contact Tim Thomas or Irene McCauley for additional assistance. 

Parish corporations must also file an annual report to the State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) before Oct. 1, 2025. This brief report can be completed using LARA’s Corporations Online Filing System platform and must be filed with a $20 fee payable to the State of Michigan. Please look out for detailed instructions from diocesan staff later this month. If you have any questions about annual corporate reporting filings, please contact Irene McCauley. 

The 2025 Parish Annual Financial Report will be available online on the Diocesan website at dioceseofmarquette.org/parish-annual-financial-report on June 15, 2025. Please be sure to include prior-year Statements of Financial Position/Balance Sheets, Statements of Revenue & Expense/Income Statements, and current-year budget attachments with each parish submission using the recommended statement format. PAFR submissions will be due to the Diocese by Aug. 31, 2025. Please contact Irene McCauley with questions on PAFR submission requirements or for general form assistance. 

Parishes with endowment funds outside the Upper Peninsula Catholic Foundation must complete the Annual Catholic Endowment Fund Financial Report by Sept. 30, 2025. As with the Parish Annual Financial Report, Annual Catholic Endowment Fund Financial Reports will cover fund activities for the parish fiscal year starting July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025. Parishes must also include copies of financial statements and meeting minutes with each report submission. For questions concerning this report, please contact Tim Thomas. 

The Parish Governance Report is due Sept. 30, 2025 and has been included in Addendum #1. Please also see Addendum #2 for an optional financial report to parishioners, provided as a template for parish use. Completed Governance Reports or questions should be sent directly to Irene McCauley.

The Stewardship and Development Department is seeking high-quality photos for use in various publications. If you have photos from your parish that you’d like to share, we’d love to include them in future materials such as UPCSA, annual reports, social media graphics, and more. Please submit your photos here:
 https://www.jotform.com/DioceseofMarquette/parish-photo-share

2026 COLLECTION SCHEDULE

Please see the Diocesan Collection Schedule for 2026 here: dioceseofmarquette.org/administration-finance. If you have any questions about the 2026 Collection Schedule, please contact Megan O’Connor at (906) 379-5057 or moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org.

WORLD CHURCH COMBINED COLLECTION

All parishes in the Diocese of Marquette will be taking up the World Church Collection on June 8. The World Church Collection supports the following outreach ministries: the Catholic Relief Services Overseas Fund, the Holy Land & National Communications Collection, the Peter’s Pence Collection, and the Diocesan Missionary Collection (New!). Parish bookkeepers are advised to divide unspecified World Church fund donations evenly between the individual collections using the Collection Counting Sheet. Bookkeepers may then complete their Combined Collection Transmittal forms to include with their payment to the Diocese. These collection resources can be found at dioceseofmarquette.org/administration-finance.

COLLECTION REMITTANCE DEADLINES

Several diocesan collections are held in the early part of the new year. Please be sure to mark collection remittance deadlines on your calendar to ensure parishioner donations are transferred to individual organizations promptly for maximum impact. Please contact Megan O’Connor at (906) 379-5057 or moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org with questions regarding parish remittance deadlines.  

The Marquette Diocesan Priest Retirement (Good Shepherd Sunday) Collection was held on May 11. Please remit funds to the Diocese by June 15, 2025. We thank you for your generous support of the retired priests of the Diocese of Marquette!

Check out the latest issue of the Stewardship E-News here. Don’t forget to invite your parishioners to subscribe using this link: Stewardship E-News Subscription. We respect your privacy and will not share subscriber emails outside our organization.

The Baraga Educational Center is back and in full swing for the summer! Come and visit Bishop Baraga's house Monday-Friday noon to 5 p.m., and evenings and weekends by appointment. Group tours are welcome! Contact us to schedule at (906) 227-9117. Our prayer gardens and votive house are open daily 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

The Baraga Educational Center and Museum Music on the Porch Summer Series is back! We’re looking for local talent to come and perform at the historic Baraga House and we'd love to add you to our list of musicians this year!  Slots are available Thursdays throughout the summer starting Thursday, June 5, 2025-Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. If you're interested, please contact us at lmckeen@bishopbaraga.org or (906) 227-9117. 

Save the date for the Annual Baraga Days event on Aug. 29-30, 2025, in the Copper Country Area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (L’Anse, Assinins, Houghton/Hancock & Eagle Harbor). This two-day event will include Evening Vespers, Native American drumming, a tour of the Assinins Cemetery, annual banquet and more! Find the full schedule of events at  https://bishopbaraga.org/baraga-days-2025/ and in the upcoming edition of the Baraga Bulletin.  Please note that reservations are required for the Saturday banquet.

We are still in search of a rather large (5 feet or so) Statue of the Blessed Mother for the Rosary Garden located on the grounds of the Baraga Educational Center and Museum! It must be concrete or marble so it will withstand the wind and weather elements. If any parishes or families have one they are looking to rehome we would be greatly appreciative.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Funds will help six Catholic agencies to provide relief and support to struggling communities and to work toward peace and reconciliation among our marginalized brothers and sisters here and around the world. Learn more at crs.org. 

The political, religious, and military challengers in the Holy Land are more complex than ever. The wars, unrest, and instability have been especially hard on Christians. The Holy Land Collection offers hope to the Holy Land Christians in these times of hardship. To learn more, please visit myfranciscan.org.

The National Communications collection helps connect people to Christ, here and around the world, through the internet, television, radio, and print media. A portion of the funds collected will remain here in the Diocese of Marquette to support our local efforts. Learn more at usccb.org/committees/catholic-communication-campaign.

The Peter’s Pence Collection enables the Holy Father to respond with emergency financial assistance to requests to aid the neediest throughout the world—those who suffer because of war, oppression, and natural disasters. It likewise provides the faithful with a tangible opportunity to not only empower the weak, defenseless, and voiceless but also sustain those who suffer. To learn more, visit usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/peters-pence.

Missionary Collection supports the international dioceses and missionary communities that have sent priests to serve in our Diocese. With two-thirds of our clergy coming from various dioceses around the world, this collection is a way for us to express our gratitude and solidarity with the countries and regions that have generously shared their priests with us.

A direct mailing will be sent to all registered households from Bishop John Doerfler in the next six weeks.  Helping to fulfill one of his primary obligations, to pray for the people of the Diocese of Marquette, Bishop John Doerfler invites parishioners to send personal prayer requests. Returned prayer cards are kept in his private chapel, where he will pray for your intentions for the next year.